White/Red

I work downtown right by the harbor, so we usually see all the tourists on cruises at restaurants and walking down the street during lunch break. This week, I saw a lot of white. White uniforms, white hats and white shoes. Sailors everywhere. They're from Korea on this world tour.

JJ and I went to Sushi Deli (JJ's favorite place to eat) for lunch the other day. JJ saw someone he knew and left me to talk to her. I looked around and saw five sailors in a small circle. They started talking to me because they noticed that I was Korean. They were all very friendly and excited to see San Diego. One guy was so excited he got to see dolphins on their way here.

There's something about sailors that makes them seem like little boys to me. I think it might be the uniform.
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I went to a Red Ribbon Luncheon today. The National Red Ribbbon Campaign began in 1985, following the murder of DEA Special Agent Enrique Camarena, killed by drug traffickers. His son, Enrique Camarena Jr. spoke at today's function. He works here at the District Attorney's Office. I had no idea how Red Ribbon Week started. Here's what he wrote about what happened:
In 1985, my father was a DEA Agent working undercover in Mexico. As a DEA Agent, he was stationed in Calexico, CA, Fresno, CA and then Guadalajara, Mexico. His work in Guadalajara brought him close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline which he suspected extended into the highest reaches of the Mexican army, police and government. Nearly eleven years after he joined the DEA, his life came to a tragic end. On February 7, 1985, just three weeks before he was to be reassigned to San Diego, he was kidnapped by five men, who shoved him into a sedan just outside the United States Consulate. He was kidnapped in broad day light with the complicity of the Mexican Police. On March 6, his body, and the body of his pilot, Alfredo Zavala-Alvera (who had been kidnapped separately on the same day ) were found in a shallow grave.

His death sparked a debate in this country. All of which was followed by a well orchestrated cover up. It drew media attention from the day that my dad went missing to months and even years after. My father's murder drew the outrage of the American public who, maybe for the first time, saw the true dark side of drug trafficking and to what depths the drug cartel leaders would sink to maintain control of their business.

The events surrounding my dad's murder sparked a grass roots campaign to reduce the demand for drugs and encourage a healthy, violence-free lifestyle across the United States. Saddened by his death, his friends, family and youth in his hometown of Calexico, California began wearing Red Ribbons in his honor. The movement has grown every year. The Red Ribbon Campaign symbolizes support for efforts to reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs.

Each year from October 23rd to October 31st thousands of schools, communities and drug abuse prevention organizations throughout the country distribute red ribbons to honor my father's memory and visibly show a dedication to be drug free. It is estimated that 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon Week around the nation.

Thank you in advance for participating.